Thursday, June 27, 2013

LEGOLAND® Florida's newest expansion World of Chima presented by Cartoon Network is opening July 3, 2013! Throughout the history of LEGO® and Merlin Entertainments Group, this is the first time a new attraction at a LEGOLAND park has been built the same year as a LEGO toy product launch.

Inside the World of ChimaThe Quest for Chi (pictured) is the centerpiece of the new World of Chima presented by Cartoon Network. Guests will enter a temple to board an interactive family water ride and battle with water cannons in a quest for the energy source, CHI.

The battle for CHI continues in the SpeedorzTM Arena where players compete to win the precious supply of CHI by racing their Speedorz through a series of obstacles.

The LEGO Chima 4D Movie Xperience, will further immerse families into The World of Chima by bringing the characters to life on the big screen.

Friday, June 21, 2013

Yesterday SeaWorld and Southwest Airlinescelebrated 25 years of partnership with the unveiling of the airline’s newest specialty aircraft, Penguin One – a Boeing 737-700 co-branded with images of one of our iconic animals, the penguin.

The aircraft was revealed at a ceremony yesterday morning at Orlando International Airport with their animal ambassadors Pete and Penny Penguin, SeaWorld and Southwest team members, community members and executives. SeaWorld's President and CEO Jim Atchison and Southwest Airlines Chairman, President and CEO Gary Kelly christened the aircraft.

The plane, filled with SeaWorld and Southwest team members, then departed for celebrations with our team members in San Antonio and San Diego.

SeaWorld is very proud of our partnership with Southwest whichdates back to 1988when SeaWorld opened in San Antonio. Even then theylaunched the partnership in a high-flying way—with the introduction of a new Boeing 737, Shamu One.

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Tampa, Fla. (June 11, 2013) – For more than five decades Busch Gardens® Tampa has delivered some of
the world’s most exciting thrills. Rides like Cheetah Hunt®, SheiKra®,
Montu® and Kumba® have set the stage, and Busch Gardens is
ready to drop big news.

In spring 2014 Busch Gardens Tampa is taking
guests’ experiences to new heights with Falcon’s FuryTM, the first drop tower of its kind
in the world. Additionally, with no connecting structures, it will be the
tallest freestanding drop tower in North America.

Falcon’s Fury

No bird can match the speed of a falcon in its hunting dive. The
falcon is the fastest animal on Earth, reaching speeds of 200 mph. Designers
were inspired by this bird of prey during the development of the new
attraction.

Falcon’s Fury will stand at 335 feet and take riders soaring 60 mph
straight down. Located in the Timbuktu™ area, Falcon’s
Fury will be visible from any location in the park and even across the
Tampa Bay area.

At the ride’s highest point Busch Gardens has
added an element of surprise. Like its bird of prey namesake, riders will
pivot 90 degrees in midair to a face-down dive position. An instant later
they'll plunge 60 mph at 3.5 Gs straight down with speed and power like they’ve
likely never experienced before.

Construction in the Timbuktu area
of the park has already begun, and Falcon’s Fury is scheduled
for completion in spring 2014.

Eighteen-month celebration kicks off on March 21, 2014 at
all three SeaWorld parks

Orlando, Fla. (June 11, 2013) – SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment™ announces a multi-park
celebration to commemorate a key event in the company’s history. The original
SeaWorld® park opened its gates for the first time in March 1964 on Mission Bay
in San Diego.

SeaWorld’s 50th Celebration will feature a Sea
of Surprises™ starting March 21, 2014. SeaWorld parks in San Diego,
Orlando and San Antonio will share the excitement throughout an 18-month
celebration that highlights some of the most memorable SeaWorld experiences.

For nearly five decades, SeaWorld has
surprised and amazed guests with unique entertainment, thrilling rides and
up-close encounters with marine animals. During SeaWorld’s 50th Celebration
visitors will be invited to take part in the celebration through new
interactive experiences, shows and pathway performances, even more up-close
animal encounters throughout the park and the SeaWorld “Surprise Squad”
treating guests with prizes every day.

Just a few weeks ago, SeaWorld Orlando opened Antarctica:
Empire of the Penguin™, an all-new realm that combines 30-degree
temperatures, upclose encounters with more than 250 penguins and an all-family
adventure ride to create the coldest theme park attraction in Orlando and a
thrilling, chilling experience of a lifetime.

SeaWorld Orlando will continue to make news
later this year when the park announces what’s new for 2014. Details will
be shared this fall.

SeaWorld’s 50th Celebration Sea of Surprises™ Highlights

·SeaWorld San Diego
will celebrate 50 years with a new interactive entrance plaza. The area will be
called Explorer’s Reef™and willopen in
March for the celebration kick-off. The 16-month construction project will
transform the existing front gate area through sculptural and design elements
inspired by waves crashing over a reef, as well as up-close encounters with
marine life. The new front gate concept will replace existing ticket booths
with a beach-themed, concierge-style ticketing area that will provide guests
with a single location to purchase admission, as well as sign up for tours,
animal interactions and dining experiences.

From the moment they enter the park, guests
can connect with the sea through multiple touch pools featuring shark pups,
stingrays and cleaner fish. Explorer’s Reef encompasses more than three acres,
including new and innovative retail and culinary opportunities for guests. The
multi-million dollar renovation effort will not only make entering the park
faster and more efficient, but will significantly enhance the arrival
experience.

·As part of SeaWorld’s
50th Celebration, there will be more surprise encounters with animal
ambassadors throughout the day. A pair of Magellanic penguins, a
lemur, or even a parade of flamingos could surprise guests at any moment at all
three SeaWorld locations.

·What’s a celebration
without surprises? The SeaWorld “Surprise Squad” will roam the SeaWorld parks
giving away prizes and special gifts. Guests could receive exclusive access to
rides or behind-the-scenes experiences, celebration t-shirts or Shamu-themed
merchandise, reserved show seating and more.

·SeaWorld is known for amazing
animal shows and each park will have something new for the 50th celebration.
Even park pathways will come to life with spontaneous entertainment at
unexpected moments, including performers with sea-inspired costumes and props,
a bubble brigade and splash mob.

·To underscore
SeaWorld’s commitment to the environment and passion for protecting the ocean,
a series of giant sea life sculptures will be displayed
throughout the parks. SeaWorld commissioned environmental art group Washed
Ashore for the large-scale art created from ocean debris. The works serve as a
reminder that our animal friends need healthy environments.

·As part of its continuing
commitment to new technology that enhances the guest experience, SeaWorld’s
50th Celebration will include new ways for fans to connect to the parks and
each other though digital devices. The parks will be launching a variety of
enhancements, from interactive apps that provide fun new ways to experience the
park to new games and video content.